Chinese Medicine​for Longevity & Health

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. I use CST in my Sebastopol clinic in conjunction with acupuncture to treat a variety of conditions, including:

WHAT IS CRANIOSACRAL THERAPYCST was developed by Osteopathic Physician John Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University. The craniosacral system includes the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord - which make up the central nervous system. The central nervous system has a great deal of influence over the body's functions and is heavily influenced by the craniosacral system.

Every day your body goes through stresses and strains and your body works very hard to compensate for these impacts. Unfortunately, these changes often cause your body’s tissues to tighten, distorting the craniosacral system. These distortions can then cause tension to form around the brain and spinal cord resulting in restrictions. These restrictions create a barrier to the healthy performance of the central nervous system, and potentially every other system it interacts with.

Fortunately, such restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. I evaluate the craniosacral system by gentle contact with various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. After evaluation, soft-touch techniques are used to release restrictions and normalize the environment around the brain and spinal cord, enhancing the body's ability to self-correct.

ACUPUNCTURE AND CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY TOGETHERI have found that using acupuncture in tandem with CranioSacral therapy to be highly effective in supporting my patient’s bodies to find healing more quickly than acupuncture alone, and the treatment effectiveness has a more lasting impact. I will typically insert the acupuncture needles then use CranioSacral Therapy while the needles remain inserted. My experience is that this technique opens the energy on more levels simultaneously, and the specific impact of the CST on the nervous system amplifies the impact of the needles on the meridian systems of the body. Simply put, the CST intensifies the effect of the acupuncture because it is unwinding tensions in your body and allowing the qi and blood to move more freely and enables healing to happen simultaneously on multiple levels of the body system.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING AND AFTER A SESSION?Each person will have their own unique experience with CST – you may feel deeply relaxed, and you might even fall asleep. Some people can feel gentle movements such as an unwinding sensation in their body. Some people have emergent memories or images occur, if this happens its perfectly normal and supports your body in reversing any possible dysfunction it has experienced and restores optimal levels of mobility.

After your treatment, you may leave in such a relaxed state that you feel like sleeping for hours. I have had other people leave the treatment room feeling invigorated and clear headed, ready for play and adventure. Most patients feel a decrease in pain or an increase in function and mobility immediately after their session – sometimes the effects develop gradually over the following days as the body recalibrates and continues unwinding. Since CST helps the body initiate its natural healing processes, it's common for your healing to continue weeks after the session.​If you have questions, I would be more than happy to answer them. If you have been looking for CranioSacral Therapy in Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, Occidental, Forestville, Bodega, Guerneville, Rohnert Park or surrounding areas, I recommend you try CST integrated with acupuncture for a powerful combined modality at my Sebastopol clinic.

Treating neck pain is always very satisfying for me as a practitioner. I can’t tell you how many times a patient has come in to my acupuncture practice in Sebastopol with stiffness, rigidity, pain and loss of range of motion and walked out with a smile, surprised at how easily their head can now flow on their shoulders from side to side and front to back. Now, not everyone walks out healed on the first treatment. But I can’t remember the last time someone didn’t feel a great amount of relief from the neck pain they were experiencing when they walked in the door.

All of these are treatable with acupuncture. In addition, CranioSacral therapy, TuiNa massage and stretching, cupping and gua sha are all therapies that can improve range of motion and decrease pain. Studies have shown that acupuncture is effective in relieving certain types of neck pain, particularly those caused by whiplash. In many cases, acupuncture has worked for my patients whose conditions couldn’t be treated using conventional approaches.

If you have a minor acute neck pain, or even some chronic pain that’s due to muscle tension, you can try these simple yet powerful techniques:

If you have an acute trauma with swelling and stiffness, you can use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours if the tissue is hot and inflamed. After the initial injury calms down, apply heat to the local area. You can use a heat pad, hot compresses or take hot showers. Heat will promote healing by warming the tissues and increasing blood flow. Increased blood flow will bring in nutrients that will help heal traumatized tissues and help flush out metabolic wastes.

If your neck is bothering you, you should pay some attention to your sleeping positions. Sleeping on your stomach will increase pain, because you will end up twisting your head one way or another for hours at a time, so please only sleep on your side or on your back.

You want to keep your neck moving, with gentle and slow movements. “Guarding”, where you hold your neck rigid and move the rest of your upper body, can increase stiffness and pain.

Gentle stretching can improve most neck conditions. If you have any acute neck trauma, or it has been recommended by your doctor NOT to stretch, or if you experience any pain during stretching, please stop immediately. I generally DO NOT recommend stretching in the case of herniated or bulging disc, without a thorough assessment.

Look up toward ceiling, then down toward ground slowly without pushing the movements farther than feels comfortable. Hyperextension is a caution, don’t bring your head to far back when looking up towards the ceiling. Pay attention to how your neck and body are feeling, and stop before…

Bring your left ear towards your shoulder while keeping your nose pointed forward, then your right ear toward your shoulder. You can stretch the arm out away from your body on the opposite side that you are bringing your ear to shoulder, and it will accentuate the stretch.

If you live in Sebastopol, or any other surrounding areas like Bodega, Forestville, Graton, Occidental, or Guerneville, the clinic is not too far away and is accepting new patients. Visit Apollo Acupuncture for your local neck pain expert! You won’t regret it. If you’re not sure acupuncture is right for you, call today for a free 15 minute consult.

Tennis elbow, aka ‘lateral epicondylitis’, is a painful condition that can be very tricky, or even impossible, for common western methods to treat. It’s a condition of trauma to the tissues on the lateral (outside part) of the elbow. If you are having it on the inside part of your elbow, it’s a similar condition, but known rather as ‘golfer’s elbow’, or ‘medial epicondylitis’. Both conditions are very treatable with acupuncture and massage or CranioSacral, both of which you can receive in one treatment with me in my acupuncture practice near downtown Sebastopol.

I have had many patients come in after months of physical therapy and pharmaceutical medications, desperate for relief. I haven’t had one patient leave without feeling better, even after the first treatment. Typically patients complain of not being able to sleep well, the arm pain waking them up with sensations of tingling or aching or numbness. Many times there is weakness and inability to perform simple daily activities like opening a jar. There are typically sharp shooting pains that come and go when making a fist or motions like shaking a hand and soreness or tenderness around the elbow or travelling down to the hand. Epicondylitis is easily diagnosable with some simple orthopedic exams; your doctor may do some imaging, but typically it’s not necessary for diagnosis.

Many times the injury is due to repetitive stress. For example, someone that is using a keyboard and mouse for many hours daily for work, massage therapists, ultrasound techs, weightlifters, knitters. Other times it can be from a short period of overuse, like spending a week digging in the garden and overusing the muscles and tendons in the area. Whatever the cause, treatment with acupuncture and other adjunct methods such as CranioSacral, massage, liniments, and herbal prescriptions can help relieve the pain and support the tissues in healing.

As far as treatment goes, a few methods will be employed based on your particular circumstances.

Acupuncture to relieve stagnation and muscle spasms, ensuring the qi and blood to flow freely and heal the microscopic tears in affected tendons.

Massage to the local area with analgesic liniments that promote healing and ease the pain.

CranioSacral therapy to help your body unwind from the trauma, and help soothe your nervous system, decreasing healing time.

Herbal prescriptions to help with the pain and healing. Meridian Comfort from Kan Herbals is a wonderful formula that I like to prescribe for elbow pain. Taking a high quality turmeric supplement is also very beneficial to decrease inflammation.

If you are not already working with a physical therapist, when the time is appropriate we can review some simple yet effective stretches and exercises for the tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow.

In summary, if you live in West County, or even Santa Rosa (I have quite a few patients that travel from Bodega, Graton, Occidental and other Sebastopol surrounding areas) and you are experiencing some elbow pain, please make an appointment today! The sooner that the pain is addressed the more quickly you will heal. I look forward to helping you heal your body! I offer 15 minute consultations to answer any questions you may have.

​Many people are surprised to learn that acupuncture, herbs and CranioSacral Therapy in conjunction are helpful treatment methods for hiatal hernia, acid reflux, GERD and heartburn and that I regularly treat patients for these concerns at my acupuncture clinic in Sebastopol. I thought it would be helpful for people suffering from these conditions and symptoms to learn about some of the suggestions that I offer to my patients to supplement their individualized treatments here.

REGARDING FOODS Avoid the following, as these foods are either acidic and will increase symptoms, or will relax the lower esophageal sphincter allowing the stomach acid to rise into your esophagus causing a burning sensation and are best avoided.

Each person is unique in their response to foods. A good option is to avoid all of the above foods for a short time, perhaps a few days, to see if your symptoms will subside. If they do, then add back in each of the foods one at a time to see if they cause discomfort and if they do then you know to avoid consuming them.

Consider increasing alkaline foods in your diet, such as the following:

REGARDING HERBAL OTC REMEDIESPatients have reported positive responses to bringing these natural alternatives into their diet to reduce symptoms and heal some of the damage to the tissue by the stomach acid. Take when symptoms arise or try as prevention.

DGL Licorice: take as directed on bottle. Chewable has faster response for some.

Vitamineral green, blue green algae or spirulina: a Tablespoon mixed in with ½ c water is very alkaline and can provide immediate relief.

Marshmallow Root tea: Cold infusion – fill a jar ¼ of the way with herb and fill with lukewarm water then rest for 4 hours or overnight. Strain and drink for quick relief, a few sips or a glass.

Chamomile tea, coconut water, aloe juice (caution with aloe, it acts as a laxative. If you don’t need help promoting bowel movements, then use the formula that has the laxative removed)

Other notes

Tums and other antacids can have harmful side effects, especially when used long-term. It is best to avoid or minimize their use and try the above options.

Some patients find propping their bed up to sleep with head and chest higher than waist helps to relieve some symptoms at night so they might sleep better.

It is important to manage the symptoms; repeated esophageal reflux can lead to Barrett's esophagus - a condition where tissue that is similar to the lining of your intestine replaces the tissue lining your esophagus. Barrett's esophagus may develop into a rare cancer.

Hiatal hernia, acid reflux, GERD and heartburn are all distinct patterns within Chinese Medicine, and with a thorough intake I will find what it is that is at the root of your imbalance, and we will use acupuncture and herbs to create balance and relieve your symptoms and promote healing. If you live in Sonoma’s West County, Sebastopol, Occidental, Graton, Guerneville, Forestville, Bodega or surrounding areas, you can book online now to receive acupuncture for your condition. I hope these tips are useful! If you have any questions, call for a 15 minute free consultation.

Frozen Shoulder syndrome, aka ‘Adhesive Capsulitis’, is a really common complaint that I treat in my acupuncture clinic in Sebastopol with amazing results. Frozen Shoulder Syndrome (FSS) is basically a term that is used to refer to a painful and stiff shoulder with a reduced range of motion.

If you have frozen shoulder, then you will only be able to move your arm in restricted movements. You will feel a dull or achey pain in the shoulder joint, and maybe even feel the pain radiate into the shoulder muscles that wrap around the top of your arm. If I was to move your arm for you, without you trying to help, I would also not be able to move the arm through its regular range of motion. This happens because the capsule surrounding the head of the humerus becomes contracted (the humerus is the long bone of the upper arm, which supports the biceps and other upper arm muscles and the head is end of the bone that fits up into your shoulder joint). There becomes thickening of the fibers with the contraction, and this results in an inability to move the arm in the shoulder joint. Simply put, there is scar tissue (adhesions) that begin to fix the shoulder in place and cause pain.

In Chinese Medicine, this is referred to as ‘Qi and Blood Stagnation’. Qi and Blood Stagnation of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome responds very well to acupuncture, heat applications like moxibustion and TDP lamps, cupping and gua sha, as well as Tuina massage and CranioSacral therapy, all methods of therapy that are included in your treatment at my acupuncture clinic in Sebastopol.

Acupuncture and all of the above mentioned specialized techniques will help break down the scar tissue and increase blood flow to the area. By inserting the small needles into specific places in your body, a nervous system response is triggered that leads your brain to release endorphins and enkephalins, which are natural pain killers. It will also increase blood flow to the area, which will promote healing; the increased blood flow will bring oxygen and nutrients to the injured area, as well as help flush out metabolic waste that was created as a result of the injury. Acupuncture can also help relax the muscles in the surrounding area, which tighten up with the contraction of the capsule.

Most patients feel great relief with the first treatment, and if they follow with the appropriate exercise and regular treatments they should experience excellent healing results. Don’t let your frozen shoulder stop you – make an appointment today to treat your Frozen Shoulder in my acupuncture clinic in Sebastopol. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact my office for a free 15 minute consultation.

Do you experience any of the following symptoms, and you are unsure why? You may be having a negative reaction to some of the foods in your diet.

SYMPTOMS OF FOOD INTOLERANCE:

fatigue

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome: includes a host of symptoms)

allergic symptoms

chronic sinusitis

arthritis

ADHD

headache and migraines

autoimmune disorders

joint and muscle pain

and more!

Although they can be difficult to enact, elimination diets are a fundamentally simple method of utilizing a strategic removal of specific foods from the diet. They are used to discover any foods that may be triggering your symptoms.

COMMON FOODS THAT CREATE SYMPTOMS

Gluten (wheat, spelt, kamut, farro, bulgar, barley, rye, etc)

Dairy products (yogurt, milk, cheese, sour cream, kefir, etc)

Corn

Eggs

Soy

Peanuts and/or tree nuts

Shellfish

Food additives

These are the foods that are more common to create issues, but its worth noting that your food sensitivities may be very specific, and different from this list. For example, I recently had a patient that was developing skin rashes as a response to consuming strawberries.

YOUR UNIQUE FOOD SENSITIVITIESTo become more familiar with the foods that are causing you problems, its important to take a close and intimate look at your diet to determine links between foods consumed and symptoms experienced. Here is a general outline of how to do the elimination diet protocol.

Craft a list of any foods that seems to have potential to trigger symptoms

Clear your diet of those foods for 2-4 weeks

Re-introduce each food on the list slowly, one at a time, to watch for symptoms.

Create a new diet that is non-triggering.

The first part of the elimination diet is to pay attention with a food journal and to do some reflection on your relationship to different foods so that you can create a list of any and all foods that may be causing you problems.

1. For one week, keep a log of the things that you eat as well as the symptoms you have during the day.

You should also consider these questions:

What foods do I eat regularly?

What foods do I crave?

What foods do I eat to “feel better”?

What foods would I have trouble giving up?

Often times, it is the foods that we crave and our comfort foods that are causing us the most problems. If this makes you want to close this page right now, then you are onto something! Be brave and take a closer look. Although it can be challenging to make changes to your diet, it will be a relief to know what’s in your diet that is complicating your health.

Continuing with the elimination diet, once you have a thorough list of all of the foods that you notice any symptoms with from your log, then you will avoid them.

2. For two to four weeks, avoid all of the foods on your list without any exceptions.

You will have to look at all food labels of any processed or packaged foods you wish to consume. You may consider only eating foods that you have cooked at home during this time, as it may be difficult to know or control what is being put into the recipes when you eat out. If you do eat out, you will need to pay special attention. You will need to learn about the foods that you are sensitive to so that you can ensure you are not getting them into your diet unknowingly. For example if you are avoiding dairy then watch for casein, lactose and whey.

It can take several days for the symptoms to improve after you take out an offending food. You may even feel worse for the first few days. Be patient and stay with the program.

After your system is cleared of offending foods, you will notice your symptoms improving, and eventually clearing up if indeed it is a food that is bothering you. Once this occurs, you can begin the next phase of the process - a reintroduction of the foods in question.

3. Add the foods back ONE AT A TIME

Start with one food, eat a meal with a small amount of it, and watch for symptoms. The next day eat a meal with a larger amount of the food. Note any symptoms.

After you eat the food for a couple of days, you will again remove the food from your diet until you are completely finished with the elimination diet. If any symptoms have arisen, wait for them to clear before trying the second food on your list.

Move to the next food and repeat the process: a small amount of the food introduced, note symptoms, next day a larger meal with the food and note symptoms. Allow the food to clear from your body after you finish for at least a day, or until all symptoms have been eradicated.

The key is to introduce each food, one at a time. Even if you do not find any symptoms from a food that you have tested, take it out until all the other foods that you are eliminating have been tested.

NOTE: some patients have found that it can take more than one or two meals of a food to cause symptoms. For example, one patient describes digestive complaints, foggy mind, as well as joint popping and muscle tension after eating gluten for several meals. The symptoms do not appear until multiple meals with the food have regularly been consumed. You may wish to take the time to eat some of these specific foods for longer periods of time, when they are foods that become more regular parts of your diet like a grain may become.​After you have found which of the foods are promoting your symptoms, now its time to create a diet that eliminates the foods. The good news is that you should try the food again in 6 months. There is a good chance that with giving your body a break from the food, you won’t be so reactive to it in the future!

If you are interested in lab testing, I do offer food sensitivity testing for patients in Sebastopol and the surrounding areas of Graton, Occidental, Forestville, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa and Bodega. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call for a free 15 minute consultation.

SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER

If you have ever struggled with an eating disorder, or wonder if you may be struggling with an eating disorder, hold off on working with this diet until you have consulted with a qualified mental health professional or your health care provider.

Never reintroduce a food that has previously caused an anaphylactic reaction.

The food elimination diet can be an intensive process. Please work with a qualified health care professional so they can support you in monitoring your health, including nutritional needs and weight fluctuations.

Sciatica can be a debilitating pain, confusing and overwhelming for those experiencing it. Pharmaceutical pain medications and surgery are typical treatment methods your doctor might recommend, but may not always be the choice you are looking for, and may not even help! A less invasive treatment method being used more and more often is acupuncture, and treatment for your sciatica is available in my acupuncture practice in Sebastopol located in the heart of West County serving surrounding areas of Bodega, Guerneville, Occidental, Graton, and Forestville.

If you are experiencing numbness, burning, tingling, sharp shooting pains, throbbing sensations in your legs and/or feet, you may have sciatica. The pain can be felt anywhere from the buttocks, down the back and/or sides of the leg and to the ankles and can come with or without back pain. Sciatica may also come with weakness of the leg that is affected. One or both legs can be impacted by the sciatic nerve impingement.

Common causes include intervertebral disc herniation and spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). If you can understand a simple version of the anatomy and function of the spine and nerves, you will understand why you’re feeling these unbearable sensations.

Your spine, or your backbone, travels from your lower back up through your neck to your skull and with it travels a network of nerves that branch out and innervate all of the tissues of your body, including in this case your glutes (butt) legs and feet. The sciatic nerve branches out from the spine in your lower back (the lumbar region) traveling through the glute area down the back of your leg to the heel, on the outer aspect of your lower leg (calf) and the outer ankle area. When the nerve becomes impinged, or pinched on, it will create these painful symptoms of numbness, tingling, shooting pains, etc. There are two main areas where the sciatic nerve gets impinged on, either at its root in the spinal canal in the lumbar region of the lower back where it leaves the spine, or in a muscle in your butt called the piriformis. The latter is called “piriformis syndrome” and we can talk about that in a future blog. Today let’s focus on nerve root compression that occurs at the spine.

Nerve root compression is most commonly caused by a bulging disc or herniated disc, bony irregularities (like spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis or osteoarthritic osteophytes). All of these conditions will create a pressure on the nerve at the spine, and that basically is what is commonly referred to as a “pinched nerve” and results in the symptoms you are feeling with sciatica. In the case of a bulging disc, the disc between the vertebrae of the spine pushes out and presses on the nerve. In the case of the bony irregularities, there is literally bone that builds up on the spine near the nerve, and the growth will begin to press on the nerve.

I have been successful treating many cases of sciatica in my acupuncture clinic. By inserting the small needles into specific places in your body, a nervous system response is triggered that leads your brain to release endorphins and enkephalins, which are natural pain killers. It will also increase blood flow to the area, which will promote healing; the increased blood flow will bring oxygen and nutrients to the injured area, as well as help flush out metabolic waste that was created as a result of the injury. Acupuncture can also help relax the muscles in the surrounding area. In the case of the ruptured or bulging disc, acupuncture is most effective for helping to heal the disc’s tissue. Tuina massage and CranioSacral Therapy are both excellent treatment methods I use for treating bone spurs as well as disc degenerations or traumas.

In acute cases, a patient may get relief within 2-3 treatments. For more chronic issues it could take up to 8-12 treatments depending on the specific circumstances of the incurring injury.

NUTRITION SUPPORTSome patients are curious about how their diet can help with their symptoms. Here are some foods that are recommended to patients with sciatica:

Magnesium-rich foods. Foods like fish and dairy products (go for grassfed, organic and cultured!) can help reduce muscle spasms, which can cause sciatica. A magnesium supplement is also an option. Magnesium glycinate is the best absorbed form and won’t cause loose bowels.

Foods with omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, halibut, trout, flaxseeds and walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may help in the healing of a damaged nerve and has potent anti-inflammatory effects. A fish oil supplement is highly beneficial. I recommend Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega to my patients. Another great brand is Carlson Labs.

Foods with B vitamins. Asparagus, garbanzo beans, salmon, eggs, mushrooms (stay away from button!) whole grains, walnuts and soybeans are just some of the foods containing high levels of vitamins B6, B9 and B12.

RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACUPUNCTURE FOR SCIATIC PAINMeta-analysis shows acupuncture a clinically relevant option for sciaticaThis research compared 122 different studies to determine the clinical effectiveness of various treatment strategies for sciatica. Researchers found a statistically significant improvement in patients who received acupuncture. This study shows us that there are a variety of options to consider when treating sciatic pain and that acupuncture can be of particular therapeutic value, especially when coupled with other pain-management techniques. More information here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24412033

Acupuncture shown to have pain-relieving effect on sciaticaThis study compared 2 methods for treating sciatic pain using acupuncture. Method 1 used 1-2 needles in the gluteal area. Method 2 called for several needles at various points on the body along with 1-2 needles in the gluteal area. Researchers found both methods to be successful, with method 1 providing slightly more relief. This finding is an indication that very few needles can be used to treat sciatic pain, as long as proper point selection is maintained. More information here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21692291

Migraines are painful and debilitating and often times when they strike, there is not much that can most patients find will relieve the symptoms. Simple movements can exacerbate symptoms; sensitivity to light and sounds encourages most patients to hide in a dark, quiet room. The attacks may likely be severe enough to be incapacitating and seriously disrupt your life. Migraines are a common complaint that I treat in my Sebastopol acupuncture clinic, with excellent results.

Migraines have several defining characteristics:

They occur occasionally and at irregular intervals, and last from 4 hours to 3 days

Pain is usually (but not always) one sided, described as pulsating or throbbing, worse with activity or movement

Accompanying symptoms may include nausea and sensitivity to light, sound or odors

About 25% of migraine sufferers will experience auras: a variety of sensory disturbances that can be visual, such as flashes of light, blind spots, bright dots, and zig zags, or experienced as tingling or numbness in different parts of the body, or even speech and language problems, like being unable to produce words. Auras typically happen as a precursor to the onset of the migraine, but they may also occur after it initiates.

There are some commonly known things that may potentiate the onset of the migraine. If you suffer from migraines, familiarize yourself with this list and notice if your symptoms strike in association so you may control some of your triggers and lessen the likelihood of an attack.

POTENTIAL MIGRAINE TRIGGERS

Red wine consumption, or other alcohols

Caffeine

Skipping meals or irregular mealtimes

Certain foods (chocolate, some cheeses, citrus fruit, foods with the additive tyramine are examples that some people find as triggers; in addition, I find that some inflammatory foods such as gluten can instigate a migraine. In this case, working with an elimination diet and food allergy testing can help shed light and bring relief)

In Chinese medicine, the migraine is a symptom of an internal imbalance, dis-ease within your body’s system. When you come in for therapy I will take a thorough assessment of your health history and current symptoms in order to arrive at a diagnosis. Once we find out what is at the root, we immediately initiate treatment to support your body in finding true health and balance, working to alleviate the symptoms of migraines.

In the clinic, I find that most migraines result from:

Emotional stress

Work, family and other life pressures, depression, anxiety, shock and trauma

Hormonal imbalances (resultants again typically of emotional and physical stress, or even diet)

Once your body is engaged in a loop of stress, it can be hard to unlock the cycle yourself. Acupuncture, Chinese medicine and herbs, CranioSacral Therapy and some of the other modalities that I use in the clinic can help your body mediate the stress response, find a natural hormonal rhythym and help your body get out of this entanglement.

Once you are out of the acute state of experiencing regular migraine symptoms, it can be helpful to attend monthly acupuncture therapy to help support your body’s newfound sense of balance and to continue nourishing and strengthening your nervous system.

SELF-CARE PRACTICES for STRESS REDUCTION to mitigate migraines​

Yoga: research has shown a dramatic reduction of migraine symptoms in persons that incorporate a yoga practice into their lives. There are many yoga studios in West County, or you can try a class online I have many patients that really enjoy Yoga with Adrienne.

Acupressure: Check out this short video from a skilled massage therapist to learn a few important points that you can gently press and massage to help alleviate a migraine headache, or slow it down before it gets worse.

If you live in Sebastopol, or any other surrounding areas like Bodega, Forestville, Graton, Occidental, or Guerneville, the clinic is not too far away and is accepting new patients for acupuncture migraine therapy.

Please note: If you are experiencing migraines, there are some red flags to be concerned with. If you have any of these in concert with a migraine, or any other symptoms that concern you, please consult your doctor immediately

MIGRAINE RED FLAGS

Migraines begin to occur after age 50.

Pain achieves it highest intensity within a few minutes or less (thunderclap headache, needs to be evaluated by your doctor).

You find any surprising changes to your headache patterns (significant increase in headache frequency or significant change in headache characteristics).

I have had many patients that toss and turn, and can’t get comfortable enough to find a position where they can rest easy at night when they are coming in for sciatica symptoms. Here are some possible options that my patients have found helpful:

Try sleeping on a firmer surface, like a guest bed, or the floor.

Sleep in a recliner, or E-Z chair. Although not a long-term solution, perhaps it will allow you to rest until the acupuncture can help your symptoms improve!

Sleep on your back with pillows under your knees and a small towel rolled up under the small of your lower back.

Sleep on the side that is not giving you pain, with the painful side up. Prop a pillow between your knees.

If you find that you roll over onto your side, you can sleep with tennis balls in your pocket which will deter you from rolling onto that side.

Absolutely do not sleep on your stomach.

I hope this helps you rest easy tonight! If you would like to find out more about how acupuncture can help you, and you live in Sebastopol, Graton, Occidental, Guerneville, Bodega, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park or any of the surrounding areas please give the clinic a call to learn how acupuncture can help you with your Sciatica pain symptoms.

As the days shorten and the weather cools, we will look for ways to continue strengthening immunity and invigorating our physical bodies. Bone broth is an excellent way to do so. From a Chinese medicine point of view, bone broth builds the most essential component of the body, the Kidney essence, along with the qi, blood, bones and tendons. Thus, bone broth is an especially useful staple during the cooler months. When you consume bone broth, you are nourishing your Kidney Yin and Yang directly. We call this 'strengthening the root' in Chinese Medicine because the Kidneys are the root of all Yin and Yang in the body. Here are some interesting tidbits about bone broth I have picked up along the way:

The bones of our body relate to the kidneys; consuming bone broth supports the bones (and teeth) and also the kidneys by virtue of this correspondence.

Its great nourishment if recovering from injury, illness, surgery, or childbirth, and excellent for those with chronic joint pain, back pain or generally diminished health function.

The nutrients in bone broth are easily absorbed and help to build strong hair, nails, bones, cartilage, tendons and all of the connective tissue in the body, gastrointestinal tract, and also provide the foundation for a strong immune system. It helps build healthy vital constitutions and repair cellular damage, including the cells of the intestinal lining that are damaged in leaky gut.

Fats in the bone broth help mineral absorption so you want to leave some behind when you clear the fat from the strained broth.

Bone broth is packed with marrow constituents; marrow is the factory complex of the bone where the body manufactures red and white blood cells. eating it nourishes the bone marrow in your own body, which helps create healthy blood in your system.

If there are colds going around or if you feel run down, make the following recipe and eat it for two or three days in a row. Increases resistance and builds immunity:

1. Roast chicken bones/pieces on 400 to enrich the flavor of the broth, until they are browned. (optional)2. Add bones and any juices from the roasting pan to a large crockpot with celery, onion, water, apple cider vinegar and kombu. Turn crockpot on low and bring to a simmer. You don’t want the broth to boil, but a gentle simmer is fine.3. Simmer for a minimum of 20 hours, then add the herbs and simmer for an additional 4 hours.4. Strain everything from the broth and discard the solids.

Sip the broth as it is, or use to cook grains and stews. I usually let it cool on the counter for a bit then chill in the fridge. To remove the fat, let the broth cool then you can skim the fat solids from the top. Leave a little, the fat helps your body to absorb minerals!

Nourishes yin, yang, qi and blood. Calming and settling to the spirit. Builds immunity and adaptability.

Bone Broth Tips and lessons

Can use any type of animal bone; just use ORGANIC and free range, Pastured is best if you can. Some find poultry more palatable, and beef too rich.

Keep a container in the freezer of meat scraps and bones from the table instead of throwing them away. When you have enough, make bone broth!

Drinking Chinese tonic herbs that have been cooked in with soup will promote absorption of the herbs.

This recipe is totally flexible! Change the vegis, use vegi scraps (store in the freezer), you don’t have to weigh your scraps. For cooking with the herbs, you want approximately this much water – its for a large pot – but otherwise it wont make a difference! Just cover whatever is in the pot with at least two inches of water.

Can be flexible on time of cooking; some folks will start a pot at the beginning of the week with a chicken carcass and continue to add meat scraps and water while it stays warm and use it throughout the week.

Use a fine mesh sieve or a coffee filter (pour-over) to strain

Freeze some broth in ice cube trays and use individual cubes to boost the flavor and nutrition of any recipe.

Can use it in any recipe that asks for broth, stock or even water: gravys, soups, grains, beans and congee, braising vegetables